Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W

Part images

What it is

Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W is the main microcontroller board for ObsoleteHQ. It combines the RP2350 microcontroller, onboard wireless hardware, USB programming, power regulation, and breadboard-friendly GPIO pins.

How students use it

Students plug it into Thonny over USB, run MicroPython, and use GPIO pins to read sensors or control outputs. In early lessons it drives LEDs, PWM brightness, RGB color, and simple breadboard circuits; later it becomes the controller for displays, sensors, motors through drivers, and Wi-Fi projects.

Pins and power

40-pin edge layout with power, ground, ADC-capable pins, and multifunction GPIO. Use the printed GP numbers and the pinout diagram before wiring.

USB power for beginner lessons. GPIO logic is 3.3V only. Use 3V3/GND rails carefully and do not use GPIO pins as power supplies for loads.

GPIO labels such as GP15 are not the same as physical pin position numbers. Many GPIO pins can also provide PWM, I2C, SPI, or UART functions depending on the code. ADC-capable pins are for analog input and still need Pico-safe voltage.

Voltage and safety

Pico GPIO is not 5V tolerant. Keep GPIO signals between 0V and 3.3V. Use level shifting or divider circuits when a module can output 5V.

Unplug USB before rewiring. Avoid shorting 3V3 to GND. Do not power motors, relays, pumps, LED strips, or high-current loads from GPIO pins.

Module internals

Main component: Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller with onboard wireless radio hardware.

RP2350 microcontroller, USB connector, BOOTSEL button, status LED, crystal/clock circuitry, flash memory, power regulation, castellated pin edges, antenna/wireless section, debug pads, and support passives.

Datasheet notes

Raspberry Pi documentation identifies Pico 2 W as an RP2350-based Pico-series board with onboard wireless networking using the Infineon CYW43439 radio. Use the official Pico 2 W datasheet and Pico-series documentation for electrical limits, pin functions, reset/BOOTSEL behavior, and power details.

Common libraries

Use MicroPython modules such as machine.Pin, machine.PWM, machine.ADC, machine.I2C, machine.SPI, machine.UART, network, and time/utime depending on the project.

Common mistakes

Using physical pin numbers instead of GP numbers, feeding 5V into GPIO, forgetting shared ground, using a charge-only USB cable, wiring while powered, and expecting a GPIO pin to supply load current.